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United States Patent |
6,036,419
|
Lanham
,   et al.
|
March 14, 2000
|
Fastener structure
Abstract
A fastener comprising an elongated body having a longitudinal axis and an
outer surface and first and second ends, a seating configuration on the
first end, a ridge extending circumferentially about the body adjacent to
the seating configuration, a plurality of splines on the outer surface
extending from the second end toward the first end and terminating at the
ridge, and grooves between the splines extending from the second end
toward the first end and through the ridge.
Inventors:
|
Lanham; Thomas R. (Boston, NY);
McCauley; Lewis D. (Orchard Park, NY)
|
Assignee:
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McGard, Inc. (Orchard Park, NY)
|
Appl. No.:
|
087525 |
Filed:
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May 29, 1998 |
Current U.S. Class: |
411/405; 301/35.621; 411/910; 411/919 |
Intern'l Class: |
F16B 023/00; F16B 035/06; B60B 025/00 |
Field of Search: |
411/402,405,407,410,910,919
301/35.62
|
References Cited
U.S. Patent Documents
3354757 | Nov., 1967 | Grimm et al. | 411/919.
|
3400626 | Sep., 1968 | Bergere | 411/919.
|
3519979 | Jul., 1970 | Badenstein | 411/919.
|
4361412 | Nov., 1982 | Stolarczyk | 411/402.
|
5324149 | Jun., 1994 | Bainbridge et al. | 411/431.
|
Primary Examiner: Wilson; Neill
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Gastel; Joseph P.
Goverment Interests
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
Not Applicable
Parent Case Text
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
Not Applicable
Claims
We claim:
1. A fastener comprising an elongated body having a longitudinal axis and
an outer surface and first and second ends, a seating configuration on
said first end, a plurality of splines on said outer surface extending
from said second end toward said first end, said splines defining a
diameter which is less than the diameter of said seating configuration, a
ridge on said outer surface of said body proximate said first end, and
said splines terminating at said ridge.
2. A fastener as set forth in claim 1 wherein said splines extend on said
outer surface for a major portion of the distance between said first and
second ends.
3. A fastener as set forth in claim 1 including a shoulder on said ridge
facing said second end.
4. A fastener comprising an elongated body having a longitudinal axis and
an outer surface and first and second ends, a seating configuration on
said first end, a plurality of splines on said outer surface extending
from said second end toward said first end, said splines defining a
diameter which is less than the diameter of said seating configuration, a
ridge on said outer surface of said body proximate said first end, grooves
between said splines, and said grooves passing through said ridge.
5. A fastener comprising an elongated body having a longitudinal axis and
an outer surface and first and second ends, a seating configuration on
said first end, a plurality of splines on said outer surface extending
from said second end toward said first end, said splines defining a
diameter which is less than the diameter of said seating configuration, a
ridge on said outer surface of said body proximate said first end, a
shoulder on said ridge facing said second end, and a second shoulder on
said ridge facing said first end.
6. A fastener as set forth in claim 5 wherein said seating configuration
comprises a separate annular seating member mounted on said first end of
said body.
7. A fastener as set forth in claim 6 wherein said separate annular seating
member abuts said second shoulder.
8. A fastener as set forth in claim 7 wherein said separate annular seating
member includes a beveled edge portion facing away from said ridge.
9. A fastener as set forth in claim 7 wherein said fastener comprises a
nut, and a thread within said nut.
10. A fastener as set forth in claim 9 wherein said thread extends into
said nut from said first end.
11. A fastener as set forth in claim 10 wherein said second end of said
body is closed with an end wall.
12. A fastener comprising an elongated body having a longitudinal axis and
an outer surface and first and second ends, a seating configuration on
said first end, a plurality of splines on said outer surface extending
from said second end toward said first end, said splines defining a
diameter which is less than the diameter of said seating configuration,
and said seating configuration comprising a separate annular seating
member mounted on said first end of said body.
13. A fastener as set forth in claim 12 wherein said separate annular
seating member includes a beveled edge portion facing toward said first
end of said body.
14. A fastener as set forth in claim 5 wherein said fastener comprises a
nut, and a thread within said nut extending inwardly into said body from
said first end of said body.
15. A fastener as set forth in claim 14 wherein said second end of said
body is closed with an end wall.
16. A fastener as set forth in claim 15 wherein said end wall is of a
thickness which can be ruptured by a stud threaded into said cavity.
17. A fastener comprising an elongated body having a longitudinal axis and
an outer surface and first and second ends, a ridge extending
circumferentially about said body proximate said first end, a plurality of
splines on said outer surface extending from said second end toward said
first end and terminating at said ridge, and grooves between said splines
extending from said second end toward said first end and through said
ridge.
18. A fastener as set forth in claim 17 including an extension of said body
on the opposite side of said ridge from said splines.
19. A fastener as set forth in claim 18 wherein said extension is of a
smaller radius than the radius of said body at said grooves.
20. A fastener as set forth in claim 17 wherein said body is hollow.
21. A fastener as set forth in claim 20 wherein said first end is open, and
a thread extending inwardly into said body from said first end.
22. A fastener as set forth in claim 21 wherein said second end is closed
with an end wall.
23. A fastener as set forth in claim 22 including an annular barb on said
extension.
24. A fastener as set forth in claim 21 wherein said splines overlap said
thread.
25. A fastener as set forth in claim 24 wherein said first end is open, and
a thread extending inwardly into said body from said first end.
26. A fastener as set forth in claim 19 including a separate seating member
on said second end, and at least one protrusion on said seating member
extending into at least one of said grooves which is located in said
ridge.
27. A fastener as set forth in claim 19 including an extension of said body
on the opposite side of said ridge from said splines, and a seating member
on said extension.
28. In a tire rim having an outer tire mounting portion, an inner hub, a
plurality of axially-extending elongated bores in said hub, and a shoulder
at the end of each of said elongated bores, the improvement comprising a
fastener in at least some of said plurality of said elongated bores, each
of said fasteners comprising an elongated body having a longitudinal axis
and an outer surface and first and second ends, a seating configuration on
said first end engaging a shoulder, a plurality of splines on said outer
surface extending from said second end toward said first end, and at least
a portion of said splines being located within a bore in which said
fastener is located.
29. In a tire rim as set forth in claim 28 wherein said seating
configuration comprises a separate annular seating member mounted on said
first end of said body.
30. In a tire rim as set forth in claim 28 wherein said first end is open,
and a thread extending inwardly into said body from said first end, and
wherein said splines overlap said thread.
31. In a tire rim as set forth in claim 30 wherein said seating
configuration comprises a separate annular seating member mounted on said
first end of said body.
32. In a tire rim as set forth in claim 30 wherein said internal thread
extends substantially throughout the length of said bore.
33. In a tire rim as set forth in claim 28 including a ridge between said
first and second ends, and a second shoulder on said ridge facing said
second end.
34. In a tire rim as set forth in claim 33 including a third shoulder on
said ridge facing said first end, and wherein said seating configuration
is a separate annular seating member in effective abutting relationship
with said third shoulder.
35. In a tire rim as set forth in claim 33 wherein said splines terminate
at said ridge.
36. In a tire rim as set forth in claim 35 including a third shoulder on
said ridge facing said first end, and wherein said seating configuration
is a separate annular seating member in effective abutting relationship
with said third shoulder.
37. In a tire rim as set forth in claim 36 wherein said first end is open,
and a thread extending inwardly into said body from said first end, and
wherein said splines overlap said thread.
38. In a tire rim as set forth in claim 37 wherein said internal thread
extends substantially throughout the length of said bore.
39. In a tire rim as set forth in claim 33 including grooves between said
splines, and wherein said grooves pass through said ridge.
40. In a tire rim as set forth in claim 39 wherein said splines terminate
at said ridge.
41. In a tire rim as set forth in claim 40 including a third shoulder on
said ridge facing said first end, and wherein said seating configuration
is a separate annular seating member in effective abutting relationship
with said third shoulder.
42. In a tire rim as set forth in claim 41 wherein said first end is open,
and a thread extending inwardly into said body from said first end, and
wherein said splines overlap said thread.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an improved fastener for use with a
specialized type of automotive wheel rim which receives the fastener
within an elongated relatively small diameter bore in the hub of the rim.
By way of background, there have recently come into vogue automotive rims
which are known as "tuner" rims. These rims have a hub with elongated
bores which receive both the axle-mounted studs and the fasteners for
securing the rim to an associated axle. The bores in the hub are of
relatively small diameter, and the studs which are attached to the axle
are located within these bores and they occupy a relatively large portion
of the diameter of the bore. In the past, the nut fasteners which were
used were basically elongated, hollow tubular members open at both ends
having an internal thread at one open end thereof for receiving the stud
and an irregular internal configuration at the other open end thereof for
receiving a wrench for turning the fastener. Nuts of this type had certain
disadvantages. One disadvantage was that the nut was open at its outer
end, which gave rise to a series of disadvantages. In this respect, the
stud was visible and, if it were discolored or rusted, it was unsightly.
Additionally, foreign matter could enter the open end of the fastener,
which was also unsightly, and, further, could interfere with the
attachment of the nut-turning wrench to the fastener. Additionally, the
number of threads within the nut were limited because the threads and the
wrench-receiving configuration were located in end-to-end relationship,
and they could not overlap. It is with overcoming the foregoing
deficiencies of prior art fasteners that the present invention is
concerned.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is one object of the present invention to provide an improved fastener
which can be utilized within a relatively small diameter bore which also
receives a stud which occupies a relatively large portion of the diameter
of the bore, with the fastener having a wrench-receiving configuration on
its outer diameter which is located in close proximity to the inner
surface of the relatively small diameter bore when mounted on the stud.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved fastener
of the foregoing type which has a separate seating member on its body so
that the seating member can be fabricated with selectively different
materials which best suit the intended use.
A further object of the present invention is to provide an improved
fastener of the foregoing type which can be fabricated by economical
fabrication techniques such as broaching.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an improved
fastener of the foregoing type which has a closed end which will obscure
the stud on which it is mounted.
A still further object of the present invention is to provide an improved
fastener of the foregoing type wherein the closed end is frangible in the
event that its bore is too short to receive its associated stud in
properly mounted relationship. Other objects and attendant advantages of
the present invention will readily be perceived hereafter.
The present invention relates to a fastener comprising an elongated body
having a longitudinal axis and an outer surface and first and second ends,
a seating configuration on said first end, a plurality of splines on said
outer surface extending from said second end toward said first end, and
said splines defining a diameter which is less than the diameter of said
seating configuration.
The present invention also relates to a fastener comprising an elongated
body having a longitudinal axis and an outer surface and first and second
ends, a ridge extending circumferentially about said body proximate said
first end, a plurality of splines on said outer surface extending from
said second end toward said first end and terminating at said ridge, and
grooves between said splines extending from said second end toward said
first end and through said ridge.
The present invention also relates to a fastener and wrench combination,
said fastener comprising an elongated body having a longitudinal axis and
an outer surface and first and second ends, a seating configuration on
said first end, a plurality of first splines on said outer surface
extending from said second end toward said first end, first grooves
between said first splines, first sides on said first splines adjacent
said first grooves, and said wrench comprising second splines, second
grooves between said second splines, second sides on said second splines,
said second splines being received in said first grooves and said first
splines being received in said second grooves with the engagement between
said first sides and said second sides being at a drive angle of about
90.degree..
The various aspects of the present invention will be more fully understood
when the following portions of the specification are read in conjunction
with the accompanying drawings wherein:
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING
FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a vehicle wheel rim of the type for
which the improved fasteners of the present invention are used;
FIG. 2 is a fragmentary enlarged cross sectional view taken substantially
along line 2--2 of FIG. 1 showing portions of the hub of the rim with an
improved fastener in position and a wrench which is utilized for
installing and removing the fasteners associated with the rim;
FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a portion of FIG. 2 showing the
improved fastener of the present invention in seating relationship to the
hub of the rim;
FIG. 4 is an fragmentary cross sectional view of the improved fastener
taken substantially along line 4--4 of FIG. 3;
FIG. 5 is an enlarged side elevational view of the fastener body without
the annular seating member thereon;
FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view taken substantially along line 6--6 of
FIG. 5;
FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view taken substantially along line 7--7 of
FIG. 5;
FIG. 8 is a fragmentary cross sectional view taken substantially alone 8--8
of FIG. 7;
FIG. 9 is a fragmentary cross sectional view taken substantially along line
9--9 of FIG. 6;
FIG. 10 is a fragmentary cross sectional view taken substantially along
line 10--10 of FIG. 4;
FIG. 11 is a cross sectional view of the annular seating member;
FIG. 12 is a side elevational view of the wrench which is utilized to mount
and remove the nut from an associated stud;
FIG. 13 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken substantially along line
13--13 of FIG. 12;
FIG. 14 is a fragmentary cross sectional view of an alternate form of
annular seating member mounted on the fastener body;
FIG. 15 is a fragmentary enlarged schematic view showing the drive angle
between the wrench and the nut; and
FIG. 16 is a side elevational view of a fastener, in accordance with the
present invention, in the form of a bolt.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The improved fastener 10 of the present invention as shown in FIGS. 1-11 is
in the form of a nut which is utilized to secure rim 11 to the studs 12
carried by axle 13 of an automotive vehicle. The rim 11 is known in the
art as a "tuner" rim and is fabricated of a cast alloy. The rim 11
includes an outer tire mounting portion 14 and an inner hub 15 shown in
cross section in FIG. 2. The hub 15 is secured to outer rim portion 14 by
a plurality of generally radially extending configurations 17. The hub
includes a surface 19 which abuts surface 20 of axle 13, and the inner
cylindrical surface 16 of hub 15 mounts on cylindrical protrusion 18 of
axle 13. Hub 15 also includes a beveled surface 21. Bores 22 extend
inwardly into hub 15 and they include an enlarged portion 23 (FIG. 2) and
a reduced portion 24. The studs 12 extend into bores 22 as shown in FIG.
2. As can be seen from FIG. 1, there are ten bores 22 in hub 15. However,
the axle 13 carries only five studs 12 and the studs are positioned to
enter every other bore 22.
The improved fastener 10 is dimensioned to fit closely in bores 22 when
mounted on studs 12. The fastener 10 in the nature of a nut includes an
elongated body 25 having an outer surface which has spaced splines 27
separated by longitudinal grooves 29. The grooves 29, as can be seen from
FIGS. 5, 6 and 7, extend from the end 30 through ridge 31 which is
circumferentially separated into spaced portions 36 by the grooves 29. The
splines 27 extend substantially the entire distance between end 30 and
shoulder 32 on ridge 31, the shoulder being formed by spaced inclined
shoulder portions 33 of shoulder 32, and thus splines 27 extend for the
major portion of the distance between the ends of fastener 10. The ends of
splines 27 proximate body end 30 are beveled at 34.
The body 25 includes a cavity 35 having an enlarged portion 37 and a
slightly smaller threaded portion 39 which receives stud 12 in threaded
relationship (FIGS. 8, 9 and 10). The cavity 35 extends from the open
threaded end 39 to the opposite end which is closed by a relatively thin
wall 40 (FIG. 9), which thus conceals the end of stud 12 and thus obscures
any rusting or discoloration of stud 12. However, since wall 40 is
relatively thin, if for any reason stud 12 is too long for cavity 35, the
stud can rupture the wall 40 so that fastener 10 can properly engage hub
15.
The end of body 25 remote from wall 40 mounts an annular seating member 41.
In this respect the open end of body 25 includes an integral mounting
extension 42 having an annular barb 43 thereon. The annular seating member
41 has an annular groove 44 therein which terminates at an annular
shoulder 45 (FIG. 11). The annular seating member 41 is press-fitted onto
body extension 42 with an interference fit and once it has reached its
required position, the edge 47 of barb 43 will engage shoulder 45 of
annular seating member 41. In this position the beveled surface 49 (FIG.
10) of annular seating member 41 will engage the tapered shoulder portions
50 (FIG. 5) of ridge 31 in complementary mating relationship. By the use
of a separate annular seating member, the outer surface of the nut body 25
can be fabricated by broaching, while the addition of the annular seating
member 41 provides a continuous uninterrupted seating surface 51. Also,
the use of a separate annular seating member 41 permits it to be made of a
different material than the nut body 25 which may also be made of
different materials, as may be required for different uses. Also the nut
and the seating member may have different coatings. When each nut 10 is in
its fully installed position, the continuous beveled annular surface 51 of
annular seating member 41 will engage annular shoulder 52 (FIG. 3) of each
bore 22 in complementary mating relationship to thereby mount rim 11 onto
axle 13. It is to be noted from FIG. 3 that the beveled annular surface 51
of seating member 41 engages substantially the entire annular beveled
surface 52 of rim 51 to thereby provide substantially total bearing
contact therewith, while the smaller diameter of the nut across splines 27
permits the wrench 53 to enter the space between splines 27 and the inner
surface of portion 23 of bore 22, as will become apparent hereafter.
The nut 10 is installed and removed by means of a wrench 53 (FIGS. 2, 12
and 13). Wrench 53 includes a tubular body portion 54 which is internally
splined at 55, with the splines 57 being of a size to be received in
grooves 29 of body 25 and with the grooves 59 of wrench 53 receiving
splines 27 of body 25. The sides 28 (FIG. 6) of the splines 27 of the
fastener are engaged by the sides 58 of the splines 57 of the wrench 53 at
an optimal drive angle of about 90.degree. (FIG. 15), and this permits the
wall of the nut to be relatively thin and still be capable of receiving
high torque from its associated wrench, which may have a thin wall. As can
be seen from FIG. 15, the drive angle is the angle which is produced
between the resultant force vector V generated by engagement of two drive
components and a radial line L drawn from the center point C of the two
components, namely, the fastener 10 and the wrench 53.
As can be seen from FIG. 10, the ends 56 of the splines 27 overlap the
threads 39, thereby providing a longer area of contact with an associated
wrench than could be obtained if the splines were located internally
within the nut. The end 60 of tubular member 54 is hexagonal for receiving
a conventional wrench. As can be seen from FIG. 2, tubular body 54 is of
an outer diameter which is smaller than the inner diameter of portion 23
of bore 22 so that the tubular body 54 can enter each bore 22 and
slidingly interengage with the grooves and splines of nut body 25. The end
61 of body 54 is tapered so that it will engage shoulder portions 33 of
ridge 31 in complementary mating relationship.
In FIG. 14 an alternate annular seating member 41' is shown which has a
series of protrusions 70 which fit into the portions of the grooves 29
which are located between the spaced portions 36 of ridge 31, to thereby
positively prevent rotation of annular seating member 41. It will be
appreciated that one or more of protrusions 70 may be used.
In FIG. 16 a bolt type of embodiment 63 of the fastener is shown. The only
difference between this embodiment and that of FIGS. 1-11 is that it
includes an integral threaded stud 64. However, the outer configuration of
body 25' and the outer configuration of annular seating member 41 are
identical to the outer configuration of body 25 and annular seating member
41, respectively, of FIGS. 1-11. The only difference between the nut type
of fastener of FIGS. 1-11 and the bolt type of fastener 63 of FIG. 15 is
that the body 25' is solid whereas the body 25 of FIGS. 1-11 is hollow to
receive a stud. The fastener of FIG. 15 is utilized in the same manner as
the fastener of FIGS. 1-11 except that its threaded end 64 is received in
tapped bores of an axle. It will be understood, however, that the outer
periphery of body 25' being the same as the outer periphery of body 25
will therefore function in the same manner as described above relative to
body 25 in FIGS. 1-11 and it will be operable by means of a wrench such as
shown in FIGS. 12 and 13.
At this point it is to be noted that the splines and grooves of the body 25
are equally circumferentially spaced. However, if desired, they can be
unequally spaced and therefore will require the use of a mating wrench so
that a generally equally spaced wrench will not be able to be used. Also,
there are infinite combinations of spacings, sizes and configurations of
the splines and grooves so that infinite numbers of fasteners can be
provided with each particular fastener requiring its own wrench.
It will be appreciated that the fastener could be fabricated from steel,
aluminum or any other suitable material, and the seating member could also
be fabricated from steel, powdered metal or any other suitable material.
Also, the fastener can be coated with decorative types of coatings such as
nickel, chromium, black chromium, colored anodized finish, or any other
desired finish. Also, the seating member can be coated with a mechanically
functional coating such as zinc, or any other suitable coating.
While preferred embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed,
it will be appreciated that the present invention is not limited thereto
but may be otherwise embodied within the scope of the following claims.
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